Air system for ice-freezing plants



Dec; 2, 1,563,331

G. B. BRIGHT AIR SYSTEM FDR 351E FREEZING PLANTS Filed Aug. 21. 1922 3Sheets-Sheet 1 U 3mm Gnome. B. Esme 1,563,331 G. B. BRIGHT AIR SYSTEMFOR ICE FREEZING PLANTS Filed Aug. 21, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (I x jimm/wto/a N 4 GAEKERQE @Bmawr Elma/1 5 G. B. BRIGHT AIR SYSTEM FUR ICEFREEZING PLANTS Filed Aug. 21. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 3mm Gnome 3 8mmadomwl.

Patented Dec. 1, i925.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFF ICE,

GEORGE B. BRIGHT, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGHOR 330 DETROIT IGE MACHINECO., OF DETROIT, MICHTGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

AIR SYSTEM FGR ICE-FREEZING PLANTS.

Application filed August 21, 1922. Serial No. 583,335.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Gnouen B. BRIGHT, acitizen of the United States of America. rcsiding at Detroit, in thecounty of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Air Systems for IceFreezing Plants, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

The invention relates to the manufacture of artificial ice and has forits object the obtaining of a simplified neumatic system fordistributing the air uncer pressure which is used in agitating the waterin the ice cans during freezing. In the present state of the art it isusual to agitate the water in the freezing cans so as to avoid thefreezing in of sediment and other impurities. The air is blo-wn into thecenter near the lower end of the can, or at the point which is the lastto freeze, and in this way the agitation is continued until the end ofthe freezing process. If, however, the blowing is continued to thefinish, the blow pipe will be frozen into the cake of ice and provisionis there fore necessary for detaching the pipe from the air distributingsystem. Furthermore, as each ice can must be supplied by a separate blowpipe and as all of these blow pipes must be connected to the supplysystem, there is a complexity of connections which interfere withexpeditious removal of the ice cans when the freezing is completed.

It is the object of the present invention to obtain an air distributingsystem which permits of quickly attaching and detaching the individualblow pipes and which does not interfere with the removal and insertionof the ice cans. To this end the invention consists in the constructionas hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the arrangement of my improved system;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-section through a portion of the brine tankshowing the blowing system in connection with the ice cans;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section through a portion of the air supplyconduit and detachable headers; and

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation.

A is the brine tank. B are the ice cans arranged therein in longitudinaland transverse series. C, C, etc. are a series of air conduits whichextend longitudinally of the tank above the same and between adjacentlongitudinal rows of cans. Each of these conduits is provided with aseries of valve fittings D which are arranged centrally ofeach'transverse row of ice cans. These fittings may be of any suitableconstruction, but, as shown in detail in Figure 3, E are seats forpoppet valves F, which valves have outwardly extending tubular stems Gadapted, when pressed inward, to unseat the valve. Surrounding eachtubular stem is a gasket H. I is a header having at the end thereof arounded centrally apertured bearing J which, when pressed inward againstthe stem G, will unseat the valve and at the same time will form asealing joint with the gasket H.

The headers I are adapted to extend along the transverse rows of cansand are provided with nipples K which register with the center of eachcan. L are couplings on the nipples K, which, as shown, consist ininteriorly threaded swivelled and longitudinally slidable sockets Msurrounding a double tapered portion N of the nipple. O is a rubber tubeadapted to be sleeved over the portion N and then secured by screwingonto the same the member L. The tube 0 is attacliied to the upper end ofa blow pipe P, which extends downward centrally within the ice can.

lVith the construction as thus far described, when the cans are firstinserted into the brine tank, all of the headers I are removed and asthe conduits C, C, etc. are between longitudinal rows of cans, they willnot interfere with the spacing of the latter. As soon as each transverserow of cans is placed, a header I is engaged with one of the fittings Dto extend transversely therefrom and over the row of cans. For holdingthis header in place the opposite end thereof is provided with aspring-pressed bearing pin Q, which may be engaged with a stationarybearing R above the tank. The pressure of the spring is sufiicient toovercome the pressure on the valve F, so that When the header is engagedwith the bearing R and also with the fitting D, the spring pressedplunger Q will open the valve S and force the rounded bearing J againstthe gasket H. This will establish air communication between the conduitC and the header I. From the latter the air will pass through thecouplings L and rubber tubes 0 into the blow pipes P, which, beingimmersed in the diiterent cans, will blow air through the water in saidcans during the freezing process.

When the freezing is complete, the header I is removed either with theblow pipes attached thereto, or, in case the latter are frozen into theice cake, the couplings L are detached so that the header will beremoved, leaving the pipes in the cans. The removal of the header clearsthe path for the removal or the ice cans and the replacement of therefilled cans. My improved construction is therefore less of anobstruction to the handling oi the cans than anything which hasheretofore been used.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The combination with a brine tank and transversely arranged rows ofice cans removably inserted therein, of an air supply conduit extendinglongitudinally of said tank, fittings in said conduit registering Withthe respective transverse rows of cans, inwardly opening valvescontrolling outlets in said fittings, a header having one end adaptedfor engaging each fitting, said header extending transversely over therow of cans and provided with depending blow pipes engaging therespective cans, and a resilient bearing for the opposite end of saidheader exerting sulficient pressure thereon to open the valve andestablish air communication with the header.

2. The combination with a brine tank and transversely arranged rows ofice cans removahly inserted therein, 01" an air conduit extendinglongitudinally of said tank and provided with outlet fittingsregistering with the respective rows of cans, each of said fittingsbeing provided with a seat for a header and an inwardly opening valve, aheader having at one end a bearing for engaging said seat adapted toalso open said valve, blow pipes depending from said header and immersedin the respective cans. and a resilient bearing for the opposite endO'lf said header exerting suliicient pressure on said header to forcethe same to said seat and to open said valve.

3. The combination with a brine tank and transversely extending rows ofice cans removably inserted therein, of an air supply conduit extendinglongitudinally of said tank and provided with outlet fittingsregistering with the respective rows of cans, a header having one endadapted for engaging each fitting, blow pipes detachably coupled to saidheader, a valve in said fitting normally closed by the pressure of theair therein and adapted to open inwardly, and a resilient hearing on theopposite end of said header adapted to exert sutficient pressure thereonto open said valve and establish air communication with the header andblow pipes.

4. The combination with a brine tank and transversely arranged rows ofice cans rell'lOVilbl. inserted therein, of an air supply conduitextending longitudinally of said tank and provided with out-let fittingstering with the respective rows of cans, a header having one end thereofadapted for engaging each fitting and provided at its opposite end witha resilient bearing, valves in said fittings normally closed by thepressure oi": the air therein and adapted to be opened inwardly by thepressure of said resilient bearings, a plurality of transverselyextending nipples upon each of said headers aligned with the centers ofthe ice can, blow pipes extending from said nipples into said cans, saidnipples being provided with double tapered stems, and rubber tubes fordetachably coupling the blow pipes to said nipples.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

GEORGE B. BRIGHT.

